System



2 Sheets-Sheet 1. V

ATTORNEY Patented June 29,1897.

(No Model.)

W. P. SKIPFINGTON.

GONDENSING SYSTEM.

WITNESSES fl/ W M6 (No Model.) 2.SheetsSheet 2.

W. P SKIPFINGTON. GGNDENSING SYSTEM.

'No. 585,365. Patented June 29,1897.

WITNESSES:

AMI/ M5 FFlCEo lVILLIAM P. SKIFFINGTON, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

CONDENSING SYSTEM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 585,365, dated June 29,1897. Application filed July 28, 1896. Serial No. 600,774. (No model.)

To (all tufto'nt it 777K147] concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM P. SKIFFING- TON, a citizen of the UnitedStates, and a resident of New York, in the county of New York and Stateof New York,'have invented certain new and usefnllmprovements inCondensing Systems, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to vapor-condensing systems, and to that class ofcondensing systems in which the vapors to be condensed are brought intodirect contact with a condensing fluid.

One of the objects of my invention is the removal from the condensingfluid of the uncondensable gases that may be in solution therein.Another object of my invention is the circulation of said condensingfluid out of contact with the atmosphere to prevent the reentrance ofair or other uncondensable gas into solution therein, and another objectof my invention is the utilization of the force with which the vapor tobe condensed enters the condenser for the purpose of maintaining orassisting to maintain the circulation of the condensing fluid or itsmotion in a closed continuous conduit.

My invention also has for its object the effective cooling of thecondensing fluid and includes improved means to that end, and alsoincludes means for regulating the supply of condensing fluid to thecondenser.

The nature and objects of my invention will more particularly appearfrom the following description and claims, in connection with theaccompanying drawings.

Figure l is a part sectional elevation representing my improvedcondensing system applied to a steam-engine. Fig. 2 is a part sectionalelevation representing my improved condensing system applied to avacuum-pan.

In Fig. l a horizontal steam-engine cylinder a is represented, suppliedwith steam through the steam-pipe a,and a suitable throttle-valve a isrepresented connecting the steam-pipe and steam-chest. The exhauststeampasses out of the engine through the exhaust-pipe Z) and into thecondenser c. The length of exhaust-pipe between the steam chest andcondenser is preferably as short as possible, and it is a materialadvantage of my in vcntion that the condenser can be placed in closeproximity to the engine or other source of vapor to be condensed Withoutregard to barometric heights. exhaust-pipe is only of sufficient lengthto include a lateral opening and lateral pipe I), having a balancedflapvalve b interposed therein acting to automatically open and perm'itthe escape of the exhaust-steam therethrough whenever the exhaust-steamsubstantially exceeds atmospheric pressure, thus permitting the engineto be used as a noncondensing engine when desired.

The condenser c is shown in a form resembling the Well-known in jector-eondenser, hav ing an exhaust nozzle or cone 0, which forms Asshown, the

the lower end of the induction-conduit for leading in the vapors to becondensed and extends into a casin g of double eonoidal form, saidcasing having a restricted neck located somewhat below its middle part.A restricted annular opening is formed at the mouth of the exhaust-cone0, through Which the condensing fluid enters the condensing-chamber in athin sheet and at a high velocity and comes in contact with andcondenses the exhaust-steam or other vapor to be condensed. Above thisrestricted mouth of the exhaustcone is formed an annular chamber with aninduction-opening c for the entrance of the condensing fluid and aconnection 0 with an exhauster, to be hereinafter described.

It will be seen that the vapor to be condensed and the condensing fluidare moving in substantially parallel directions at the point of contact,so that the force with which the vapor enters the condenser will beeffectively imparted to the condensing fluid for the purpose hereinafterdescribed.

A pipe or conduit 61 extends from the lower end of the condenser 0through a suitable cooler, shown in Fig. 1 as formed by a tank e, havinginduction and eduction openings c and 6 respectively, for flowing acooling fluid through the tank, said pipe d emerging from said coolerand extending vertically alongside of and, in the construction shown inFig. 1, some distance above the condensing chamher. If the engine isupon a boat, an outboard cooler may be used, the pipe cZ extending alongoutside the hull incontact with the fluid which floats the boat and themotion of the boat constantly bringing cool water in contact with thecooling-pipe, so as to effectively cool the fluid flowing through thepipe, or in some cases the pipe (I may be immersed in a moving stream ofwater in any suitable manner.

The length of the portion of the pipe 61 Within the cooler would ofcourse in each case be such as to bring about the desired cooling of thecondensing fluid flowing therethrough. As shown, the portion of the pipecl within the cooler slopes gently downward toward its entering end, andmeans are provided connected to this end for removing the excess orincrement of fluid produced by the condensation of the vapors, suchmeans being shown as consisting of a connection f, having acheckvalve ftherein (closing against pressure toward the closed conduit) and runningthrough a fluid-moving device, as a rotary pump J, to the hot-well g. Acock f is also provided upon the connection f for use in cleaning ordraining the condenser and connections.

The vertical portion of the pipe cl is shown as connected to theinduction-opening c of the condenser by a valve 61, whereby theinlet-opening for condensing fluid to the condenser may be adjusted asdesired to regulate the rate of flow ot the condensing fluid flowing tothe condenser. The portion of the piped extending above this. connectionacts as a stand-pipe to receive any excess of condensing fluid beyondwhat will at once flow through the valve 61 into the condenser in theevent of a sudden impulse to the condensing fluid from the exhaust steamor vapor. As the exhaust steam or vapor is supplied to the condenser attimes with considerable residual force and at other times with acomparatively slight impulse, and moreover this force with which theexhaust-steam enters the con denser isaquantity varying at diiterentparts of the stroke of the engine, and this force maintains thecirculation of the condensing fluid, it is desirable that thesefluctuations of speed shall not be repeated in the supply of condensingfluid to the condenser, and therefore by the proper regulation of thevalve (1 the stand-pipe may be utilized to receive the excess of fluidand allow the excess of energy to be expended in lifting a column offluid therein. This arrangement is practically automatic in action, asthe column of fluid in the stand-pipe introduces a pressure upon thecondensing fluid of increasing force as the height of the columnincreases, and this pressure will be effectively exerted through theinduction-opening of the condenser in the event of a sudden diminutionof speed in the condensing fluid flowing up the vertical portion of thepipe d, and therefore by a proper regulation of the valve 61 asubstantially uniform supply of condensing fluid may be obtained.

The upper end of the stand-pipe portion of the conduit (1 is shown asconnected by a pipe d having a suitable valve, as (1 interposed therein,to the connection or pipe 0 above described as running from the annularchamber at the top of the condenser c. The pipe '0 beyond the connectionof the pipe 01 thereto has a check-valve c of suitable construction andclosing against pressure toward the closed conduit and shown as a lockcheck-valve capable of being locked in closed position bya screw-stem,as well understood in the art, and beyond this check-valve the pipe 0enters an exhauster, shown as an ejector h of ordinary construction, thesteam-nozzle of which is connected by apipe 71, having a suitable valve72 interposed therein, to the steampipe a supplying the steam to theengine. From the lower end of the ejector h a pipe 7L3 extends into thehot-well g.

In the operation of the engine condensing system shown in Fig. 1 andabove described the condensing fluid is circulated through a closedcircuit out of contact with the atmosphere, and substantially the samefluid is used over and over again. The fluid when originally introducedinto the system will contain, as do all fluids at atmospheric pressure,a large quantity of air or other uncondensable gas in solution therein,but upon lowering the pressure this uncondensable gas will escape fromthe fluid and rise to the top of the annular chamber in the condenser cand to the top of the stand-pipe of the conduit (1, and at these places,as above described, connections are made with exhausting means, shown asa single ejector 77,, so that when the operation of the ejector isstarted by opening the valve 7L2 the reduction of pressure within thecondensing system and the removal of the uncondensable gases from thecondensing fluid will take place regularly and effectively. During theoperation of the engine and condenser more or less of uncondensablegases will be carried into the condensing system with the exhaust steamor vapor and will at times leak in at the stuffing-boxes or other placesby reason of the low pressure in this system, but these uncondensablegases will be removed by the continued action of the exhauster and thecondensing fluid will enter the condensing-chamber as free fromuncondensable gases as is practicable, and inasmuch as the condensingfluid is continuously circulated out of contact with the atmosphere theamount of uncondensable gas to be removed during the operation iscomparatively slight and a highly effective action of the condenser isassured. As the exhauster is connected to the conduit in ad Vance of thepoint of contact of the vapor and condensing fluid, there will be nowithdrawal of uncondensed vapor by the exhauster, and the withdrawal ofuncondensable gases from the condensing fluid will properly precede thecondensing operation. But a slight amount of live steam is used to workthe ejector h, and after this steam, has passed through the ejector itenters the hot-well and aids in heating the feed-water therein, and ifany fluid is car ried out of the condensing system by the ejector thisfluid is also delivered into the hotwell.

The inflow of exhauststeam into the 0011- denser constantly adds to theamount of fluid in the closed conduit, but this is provided for by theconnection f and the rotary pump f and the pump may be actuated in asuitable manner at such speed as to continuously remove fluid from theclosed conduit in such quantity as to leave a substantially constantquantity of condensing fluid therein, or the pump may be actuated morerapidly for short periods whenever it is desirable to remove fluid fromthe closedconduit. It will be observed that this connection is in theneighborhood or the hottest part of the pipe d, so that in operationwarm fluid will be removed and discharged into thehot-well, where itwill aid in heating the feed-water of the boiler.

The application of my invention to a vacuum-pan is illustrated in Fig.2, 7c representing the vacuum-pan, k a drip or collecting chamber, and7-5 the pipe leading to the condenser. The condenser is of the sameconstruction as that above described and is similarly lettered. As thevapor from the vacuum-pan will not usually enter the condenser withsufficient force to maintain the circulation of the condensing fluid,Iprovide in this instance suitable means for maintaining the circulationof the condensing fluid, such means being shown as a centrifugal pump7}, interposed in the conduit (1. This pump may be continuously operatedby any suitable means at such speed as to cause the condensing fluid toflow through the closed conduit at the desired rate of flow. In thisdrawing, Fig. 2, an ejector j is shown instead of the rotary pump f ofFig. 1, acting to remove the surplus fluid from the closed conduit, thisejector j being connected bya pipe j,havinga valve 7' interposedtherein,to a pipe h,running from any suitable source of rapidly-movingfluid, as steam or water or air. The fluid carried out by this ejectorpasses through the pipe 7' into a suitable collecting-tank or hot wellg, from which it may be drawn off as desired for use as a solvent forthe substance to be evaporated. A check-valve 7' closing againstpressure toward the closed conduit, intervenes between the pipe at andejector The connection of the ejector j with the closed conduit is shownat a point in the vertical portion of the pipe cZ beyond the cooler andin advance of the condenser and immediately in advance of thecentrifugal pump t}. whereby the ejector receives the cooler fluid andis enabled to assist in charging the centrifugal pump. It is anadvantage to use cool fluid in an ejector, and the cool fluid is a moreconcentrated solution of the solvent, such as sugar, which will usuallybe dissolved in the condensing fluid in a construction such asillustrated in Fig. 2, and it is of course desirable to draw out as muchof the dissolved substance as possible. In some cases, how- This ejector7t discharges into the collectingtank g through the pipe 77.

The cooler for the condensing fluid as shown in Fig. 2 is of a specialconstruction hereinafter claimed. The lowerportion of the pipe 61 isincased within an enveloping pipe Z, and an induction-pipe l and aneduction-pipe Z are provided for this envelop and a suitable coolingfluid is caused to flow therethrough. The tendency of the fluid inflowing through such an annular space in the substantially horizontalportions of the pipes is for the hotter part to remain in contact withthe upper part of the inner pipe, and the tendency in the inner pipe isalso for the hotter portion to rise to the upper part of that pipe, andthe effectiveness of the cooling action would therefore be impaired ifthis tendency were unrestrained. In vertical or substantiallywerticalportions of the pipes the tendency of the cooling fluid is to moverapidly without brin ging new portions of the cooling fluid incontactwith the inner pipe. I effectively prevent gravitation of thecooling fluid into differently-heated layers and I also bring newportions of the cooling fluid into contact with the inner pipe andlengthen the path of the cooling fluid by causing it to move around theinner pipe as it flows longitudinally relatively thereto, the meansshown for such purpose consisting of the helical partition E of longpitch, located in the annular space between the inner and outer pipes,thus forming a helical passage for the cooling fluid around the innerpipe. The condensing fluid to be cooled in the inner pipe and thecooling fluid in the annular space surrounding it are caused to flow inopposite directions. As the cooling fluid approaches the hotter end itsrate of flow is increased by narrowing theannular space between theinner and outer pipes toward the hotter end of the cooler, and, asshown, the outer pipe Z is of gradually-diminishing diameter toward itseduction end.

The cooler slopes gently downward toward its eduction end, and at itslowest point is provided with a cock Z for draining the outer pipe Z andwith a cock f for draining the inner pipe CZ.

It is well known that in the action of a vacuum-pan considerableportions of the sub stance dissolved, as the sugar in a sugarvacuum-pan, are carried over with the vapor into the vapor withdrawingand condensing apparatus, and where the products of the condensation arewasted there is a considerable loss of the dissolved substance. Asaccording to my invention substantially the same condensing fluid isused over and over again and the surplus is withdrawn and dischargedinto a supply-tank and the entire system may be drained at any time, allof the products of condensation are saved. For example, in asugar-refinery, according to my invention, sweet water is supplied fordissolving fresh quantities of sugar to go through the refiningprocesses and be again evaporated. It is also of material advantage thatthe condensing or cooling system may be located wherever desired withoutregard to barometric heights, and this is true in all applications of myin vention.

In each of the two constructions shown and above described means areprovided in addi-v tion to the exhauster for removing water from theclosed continuous conduit. In some cases, however, the removal of waterneed not be effected except at long intervals, and this would beespecially true with stand-pipes such as illustrated in Fig. 1, and theremoval of water may be accomplished by the exhauster alone and could,in fact, be effected by the eXhauster in the constructions shown in theevent that the other means were out of repair and therefore ineffectiveor insufficient .or were not operated, as the upper chamber of thecondenser would be filled with water if the conduit were overcharged,and the eXhauster would, if then operated, convey water out of theconduit.

It is obvious that various modifications may be made in theconstructions above described within my invention and that parts of myinvention may be used in connection with other parts of substantiallydifferent construction from that above described. I do not thereforelimit my broad invention to the particular construction described andshown, but

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The method of condensing a vapor which consists in circulating acondensing fluid in a closed circuit out of contact with the atmosphere,removing uncondensable gases from said condensing fluid and then leadingthe vapor to be condensed into contact with said. condensing fluid andthen cooling said fluid, substantially as set forth.

2. The method of condensing a vapor which consists in leading said vaporinto contact with a condensing fluid flowing in a directionsubstantially parallel to the direction of movement of said vapor,whereby the movement of the vapor is imparted to the condensing fluid,and circulating said condensing fluid in a closed circuit out of contactwith the atmosphere under the impulse of the vapor and cooling saidfluid, substantially as set forth.

3. The method of condensingavapor which consists in removinguncondensable gases from a condensing fluid and then leading the vaporto be condensed into contact with said condensing fluid while thecondensing fluid is flowing in a direction substantially parallel to thedirection of movement of said vapor, whereby the movement of the vaporis imparted to the condensing fluid, and circulating said condensingfluid in a closed circuit out of contact-with the atmosphere under theimpulse of the vapor and cooling said fluid, substantially asset forth.

4:. A condensing system comprising a continuous conduit fora condensingfluid closed from contact with the atmosphere and of sufflcient surfaceto permit the cooling of the fluid therein, an induction-conduit openinginto said continuous conduit for leading in the vapors to be condensed,and an exhauster connected to said continuous conduit away from thepoint of contact of the condensing fluid and vaporto be condensed,substantially as set forth.

5. A condensing system comprising a continuous conduit for a condensingfluid closed from contact with the atmosphere and of sufficient surfaceto permit the cooling of the fluid therein, and an induction-conduit forleading in the vapors to be condensed, opening into said continuousconduit in a direction substantially parallel to the direction of flowof the condensing fluid, whereby the force with which the vapor to becondensed enters the condenser is utilized to move the condensing fluidin its closed circuit and means for removing fluid from the conduit,substantially as set forth.

6. A condensing system comprising a continuous conduit for a condensingfluid closed from contact with the atmosphere and of sufflcient surfaceto permit the cooling of the fluid therein, an induction-conduit forleading in the Vapors to be condensed, opening into said continuousconduit in a direction substantially parallel to the direction of flowof the condensing fluid, whereby the force with which the vapor to becondensed enters the condenser is utilized to move the condensing fluidin its closed circuit, and an exhauster connected to said continuousconduit away from the point of contact of the condensing fluid and vaporto be condensed, whereby uncondensable gases are withdrawn from saidfluid before it comes in contact with the vapor to be condensed,substantially as set forth.

7. A condensing system comprising a continuous conduit for a condensingfluid closed from contact with the atmosphere and of sufficient surfaceto permit the cooling of the fluid therein, said conduit including astandpipe, an induction-conduit opening into said continuous conduit forleading in the vapors to be condensed, said stand-pipe of the continuousconduit being located in advance of the point of contact of thecondensing fluid and vapor, means for controlling the flow of condensingfluid, said controlling means TIO being located between said stand-pipeand said point of contact, and an exhauster for Withdrawinguncondensable gases from said closed conduit, substantially as setforth.

8. A condensing system comprising a contin-nous conduit for a condensingfluid closed from contact with the atmosphere, an induction-conduitopening into said continuous conduit for leading in the vapors to becondensed, an exhauster connected to said continuous conduit in advanceof the point of contact of the condensing fluid and vapor to becondensed, means for cooling said continnous conduit, and means forwithdrawing the surplus fluid from said conduit, substantially as setforth.

9. A condensing system comprising a continuous conduit for a condensingfluid closed from contact with the atmosphere, an induction-conduit forleading in the vapors to be condensed, opening into said continuousconduit in a direction substantially parallel to the direction of flowof the condensing fluid, whereby the force with which the vapor to becondensed enters the condenser is utilized to move the condensing fluid'in its closed circuit; means for cooling said continuous conduit, andmeans for Withdrawing the surplus fluid from said conduit, substantiallyas set forth.

10. A condensing system comprising a co11- tinuous conduit for acondensing fluid closed from contact With the atmosphere, aninduction-conduit for leading in the vapors to be condensed, openinginto said continuous conduit in a direction substantially parallel tothe direction of floW of the condensing fluid, an exhauster connected tosaid continuous conduit in advance of the point of contact of thecondensing fluid and vapor to be condensed,means for cooling saidcontinuous conduit, and means for Withdrawing the surplus fluid fromsaid conduit, substantially as set forth.

1.1. A condensing system comprising a continuous conduit for acondensing fluid closed from contact with the atmosphere, said conduitincluding a stand-pipe, an inductionconduit opening into said continuousconduit for leading in the vapors to be condensed, said stand-pipe ofthe continuous conduit being located in advance of the point of contactof the condensing fluid and vapor, means for controlling the flow ofcondensing fluid, said controlling means being located between saidstand-pipe and said point of contact, and an exhauster for Withdrawinguncondensable gases from said closed conduit, means for cooling saidconduit, and means for With drawing the surplus fluid from said conduit,substantially as set forth.

12. A condensing system comprising the injector-condenser c, c, the piped, an exhauster connected to the condenser by pipe 0 means for coolingthe pipe d, and means for withdrawing surplus fluid, substantially asset forth. I

13. A condensingsystem comprising theinjector-condenser c, c, the piped, the valve cl,

said pipe cl having a substantially vertical portion forming astand-pipe, an exhanster connected to the condenser by pipe 0 and to thestand-pipe by the pipe 01 means for cooling the pipe 61 and means forWithdraWin g surplus fluid, substantially as set forth.

14. A condensing system comprising the in- 'ector-condenserc c the i eatan exhauster connected to the condenser bypipe 0 the pipe Z envelopingthe pipe 01, and the helical partition Z extending across the annularspace between the pipes d and l, substantially as set forth.

15. A condensing system comprising the injector-condenser c, c, the pipe(1, an exhauster connected to the condenser by pipe 0 a conduit for acooling fluid enveloping the piped and means for causing the coolingfluid to move around the pipe at as it is moved longitudinallyrelatively thereto, substantially as set forth.

Signed at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York,this 27th day of July, A. D. 1896.

VVILLIAM P. SKIFFINGTON.

lVitnesses:

HENRY D. WILLIAMs, HERBERT H. Games.

